Category Archives: Economy

If we humans are to survive the catastrophic threats that now confront us, we must urgently rethink the way we live and care for our planetary home. In turn, that demands that we examine the role that economic theory and … Continue reading →

In dealing with economic problems requiring adaptive change we shouldn’t look to so-called “leaders”. We need leadership.  There is a profound difference.

Economics and public policy are influenced by a nineteenth century model of capital, and therefore of capitalism, that is no longer fit for purpose.

Last Wednesday’s release of the national accounts for the September quarter confirmed what we already knew – economic stagnation continues. Most importantly, it is hard to see why the economy will ever improve under present policies. Instead we need a … Continue reading →

The last thirty years have seen a massive sale of government business enterprises, which, on privatisation, have set prices in line with corporate profit-maximisation. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the consequent allocation of resources is probably less efficient than would have … Continue reading →

Sometimes an analogy to something old yields an insight into something new. That is the case with the idea of “data as labor,” promoted by Glen Weyl and Matt Prewitt of RadicalxChange.

Competition generally brings tremendous benefits to consumers, but when it becomes an end in itself those benefits can be outweighed by the costs of competition.

Is Australia’s award system so complex major corporations capable of handling millions of customers and billions of dollars can’t manage to pay employees properly?

An obsession with “balanced budgets”, promoted by successive Coalition governments, is having serious economic consequences.

The problem with the housing bubble is not a shortage of housing, the problem is an excess of money. The solution is to restrict the amounts banks can loan. The solution is a credit squeeze. But it would have to … Continue reading →